Automatic starting device



Feb. 14, 1939. G. R. ERICSTON AUTOMAT IC S TART I NG DEVIC E Filed June 24, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 35 24 M I llllii INVENTOR.

650265 ,e fE/CSO/V ATTORNEY.

Feb. 14, 1939. G. R. ERICSON 2,147,019

AUTOMATIC STARTING DEVICE Filed June 24, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 0 4a 34 4 Z 24 23 :47 4S INVENTOR. foeaz E fiE/C'J'OAA ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 20 Claims.-

This invention relates to starting means for internal combustion engines and consists in a device particularly adapted for automatically en-' ergizing the so-called self starter of a gasoline automobile when the ignition switch is turned on and there is substantially no suction in the intake conduit.

Previous automatic starting devices have been complicated, expensive, and unreliable and dimcult to install or repair due to intricate mechanical and wiring arrangements. Such devices have not been wholly satisfactory for the above reasons and also in view of the lack of certainty of operation, which, in many cases caused serious damage to the engine by causing operation of the starting motor while the engine was operating at high speed.

In previous devices considerable difllculty has been experienced in insuring-that the starter circuit will be energized only at the proper time and will be positively and quickly deenergized when the engine starts to run under its own power.

An object of the present inventionis to pro-' vide an automatic starting device for internal combustion engines which functions to energize the starter circuit when certain predetermined conditions exist, and insures that the starter will be deenergized and will remain in such condition when the engine is running under its own power.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for automatically starting internal combustion engines responsive to the energized condition of the usual ignition circuit and the absence of a predetermined rate of flow (as distinguished from suction) in the fuel intake passage.

Another object is to provide an automatic starter device of the above type which is reliable, compact, simple and durable in construction and which may be easily installed and serviced. I

Another object is to provide a device of the above type adapted to function as a pressure controller for maintaining predetermined minimum suction in the intake manifold.

These objects and other more detailed objects hereafter appearing are attained by the structures illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of an internal combustion engine and equipment of the type used in automobiles and with the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a side view and vertical section taken on line33 of Figure 2, parts being broken away for clearer illustration.

Figure 4 is a detail section showing a portion of the structure in Figure 3, parts being shown in a different position and other parts being 5 omitted.

Figure 5 is a vertical section and side view with parts broken away, somewhat as in Figure 2, but illustrating a modification.

Figure 6 is a detail vertical section on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a vertical section and side view with parts broken away somewhat as in Figure 5, but illustrating a modified form of vaporizing valve.

Figure 1 illustrates a portion of an internal l5 combustion engine I, having an intake manifold 2 and downdraft carburetor generally indicated at 3. The self starter motor 4 is mounted in any suitable manner adjacent the engine and' is operated by current from a storage battery 5, through the heavy wire or cable 6 and ground connections as at I. The. above parts are stand-. ard equipment in automobiles, and the details thereof do not constitute the present invention.

The primary starter circuit including wire 5 is controlled by an auxiliary circuit including a solenoid or other type of magnetic switch 8 and wires 9, l0, and H. The wires 9 and H) are connected to the contacts I2 and I3 of a manual switch 14 which, conveniently, may be conjoined I with the usual key or lever operated ignition switch located on the dash board or steering column whereby a single manual operation energizes the ignition and places the starter circuit in condition for automatic operation. The wires It I and II connect with an automatic switch generally indicated at l5 and more clearly illustrated in Figures 2, 3, and 4.

Rotatably mounted in the mixing chamber or passage l6 of the carburetor is the usual throttle valve i'l manually controlled through the lever I8 and a connection with the dash board or accelerating pedal (not shown). Located anterior to the throttle is a choke valve (not shown) having a lever IQ for manual operation, although the us choke may be automatically controlled, if desired.

'At the lower end of the carburetor, the mixing chamber l6 communicates through a riser element 20 with intake manifold 2, the mixing chamber, riser, and manifold constituting portions, of the inlet conduit of the engine through which air and vaporized fuel are drawn into the firing chambers by suction due to the movement of the pistons, as is well understood in the art.

Secured between the opposing bolting flanges ll 2| and 22 on the carburetor and manifold riser member 28 are a collar member 23 and gaskets 23a. A laterally and upwardly projecting bracket receiving wires I and I] of the auxiliary conduit.

Secured on the inner portions of terminals 21 are In spring fingers 30 and 3|, the former having an abutment 32 at its 'outer extremity.

A tubular part 33 projects from the switch housing 25, through the upstanding part of bracket 24 and is threaded for a nut 33a which secures housing 25 to the bracket. Member 33 receives a reach pin or link 34 which, at one end, engages the switch finger abutment 32 and at the other end has an offset finger 34a pivoted to one arm 35a of a bell crank 35 on the outside of M the carburetor. Crank 35 is rigid with an outer extremity of a pin 36 eccentrically journalled in the collar member 23. Also rigid with the pin 36 is an unbalanced butterfly valve 31 disposed within the intake passage posterior to the throttle I1.

23 A coil spring 38 is secured to the lower arm or lever portion 35b of bell crank 35 and to a pin 39 on the outside of intake riser element and constantly urges the bell crank in a counterclockwise direction.

30 In the embodiment shown in Figure '7 the vaporizing valve 48 is mounted at the end of a sleeve 49 which is fitted into the riser so as to seat on the end thereof as a valve. The valve is provided with a conical portion 58 terminating in 35 seat 5| for purposes hereinafter to be described.

I'he valve is mounted on a stem 52 which is slid-' able in the spider 53 and is connected by link 54 and lever 55 to the transverse shaft 58 which is connected to the switch operating device by a 40 lever 51. A spring 38 corresponding to the spring 38 in Figure 3 tends to hold the valve in closed position. It will be understood that the suction operated piston construction such as shown in Figure 5 45 may be used with the construction shown in Figure '7 in which case the link 44 shown in Figure 5 is connected to the lever 51 in the same manner in which it is connected to the lever 45 in Figure 5. 5 The operation of the deviceis as follows:

When the engine is at rest and there is no flow through the intake passage'and valve 31 is held by spring 38 in a position at right angles to the axis of the intake passage as in Figure 3, and

55 wires l8 and II are connected together through the switch points 30 and 3| completing the starter auxiliary circuit through wires. 3, I0 and H and switch l5, which closes the magnetic switch 8 so as to energize thestarter. Under these condi- 00 tions, the starter will be energized when key M is turned, which, preferably also energizes the ignition circuit.

As soon as the engine starts to operate under its own power,'fiuid flow caused by suction created 05 in the intake passagcwill rotate the unbalanced valve 31 in a clockwise direction against the force of spring 38. withdrawing pin 34 from switch finger contact 32, and permitting breaking of the auxiliary circuit at this point, as shown in Figure 70 4, due to the inherent resiliency of the switch fingers, and consequently deenergizing of the starter. In case the engine is stalled while the ignition key remains turned on, the spring 38' will immediately return the unbalanced valve 31 75 to the closed position causing the switch points 30 and 3| to again contact, whereupon the starter circuit is reenergized. y

In order to prevent energizing of the starte circuit while the engine is running, valve 31 must respond to the minimum fiow created under the 5 most adverse conditions as, for instance, (a) when the throttle is fully opened and the engine is moving slowly due to a heavy pull or (b) when the throttle is fully closed. The sensitivity of valve 31 depends upon the relative sizes of the 1 sides or wing portions thereof and the strength of spring 38 and spring fingers 30 and 3|, these factors being adjusted so as to produce the most satisfactory operation.

Fingers 5 and 6 illustrate a suction controlled 5 switch device for the starter auxiliary circuit which is substantially more sensitive to pressure conditions in the intake conduit than the device in the previous form, without the precise balancing and adjustment of parts necessary therein. 20 Carried by the collar member 23 bolted between the adjacent flanges of the carburetor 3, only'the' lower portion of which is shown, and the manifold riser 28 are a pair of laterally and upwardly extending brackets 23 and 40. Bracket 23 supports an automatic switch device I5 as in the previous form. The bracket 40 supports a chamber member 4| having therein a reciprocating piston 42 constantly urged outwardly or to the left by the coil spring 43. Piston 42 is connected to the adjacent extremity of switch reach pin 34 by a link 44. Rotatably mounted in collar member 23 is an unbalanced butterfly valve 45 also connected to the adjacent end of pin 34 and to link 44 by a lever or crank 46 rigid with the valve pivot 41. The interior of chamber 4| communicates with suction in the intake manifold 2 through a tube 48.

Suction in the intake passage tends to move the unbalanced valve 45 in a clockwise direction so as to open the switch l5, as in the previous form. Suction in the intake manifold causes the piston 42 to be drawn into chamber 4|, due to the difference in pressure on the opposite ends thereof, the outer or left end being exposed to the atmosphere, thus further insuring breaking of the auto- 5 matic switch contact as soon as the engine starts to run under its own power, and maintaining the switch open thereafter irrespective of the rate of flow in the intake passage to which unbalanced valve is exposed. The device in this form is particularly advantageous for insuring that the auxiliary circuit switch remains open when the throttle is closed resulting in substantially decreased fiow through the intake conduit.

The modified form, in particular, may also function as a compression selector or controller for the engine due to the fact that the position of the unbalanced valve 45 depends upon the suction conditions in the intake manifold. Thus when the piston velocity is relatively slow and the 30 throttle is opened, resulting in increased pressure and consequent decreased suction in the manifold and in chamber 4|, the valve 45, will close sumciently to substantially restrict the rush of atmospheric air into the manifold and prevent pro- 55 nounced drop in the manifold suction which would otherwise result under these conditions, thereby stopping the operation of the windshield wiper and causing the cylinders to receive an overcharge of fuel, which would cause detonation. The restriction around valve 45 also maintains a relatively high velocity of the intake fluid around the edges of the valve resulting in improved vaporization of the fuel. A suction selector or controller device somewhat as described above is more fully disclosed and claimed in a co-pending application, Serial No. 19,842 filed May 4, 1935, in the name of the present inventor.

The operation of the device shown in Figure is similar to that of the previous devices except that the whole of the presure difference is'available for operating the valve 8 instead of depending on the differential area. The cup-shaped formation 50 of the valve also has an important function. By this construction substantial open ing movement of the valve is required before the area of the valve opening isgreatly increased. In other words, quite a substantial movement of the lever 55 and shaft 56 is accomplished when the engine starts to run under its own power so that the adjustment of the contact pointsmay be less accurate than with the construction shown in Figure 3.

The devices of the present invention are simple and rugged in construction and may be easily installed due to the fact that the entire auxiliary switch mechanism is formed as a unit with the collar member which is secured between the bolting flanges of the carburetor and intake manifold.

' Moreover, the device functions positively to start the engine as soon as the ignition switch is turned on and thereafter automatically in case the engine is inadvertently stalled. Means are also provided for quickly and positively deenergizing thestarter circuit as soon as the engine starts to run under its own power thus preventing damage to the meshing engine and starting gears.

Downdraft carburetors, as shown in the drawings, are not essential, and the invention may be utilized with substantially any other type of carburetor. The particular form of starter auxiliary circuit disclosed is desirable for practical considerations, but this is likewise subject to variation. Within the scope of the invention the automatic switch device functionsto actuate the self starter motor in case the engine is stalled, whether through an. auxiliary circuit or otherwise.

The invention is not limited to the structure shown but may be modified in various respects as will occur to those skilled in the art, and the exclusive use of all such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 48,815 filed November 8th, 1935, for improvements in Automatic starting devices.

I claim:

1. A starter control comprising a. main body member adapted-to be mounted between the carburetor and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, said body member having a passageway therethrough, said passageway being adapted to register with and form a connection between the outlet of a carburetor and the inlet of the intake manifold, a flow responsive device carried by said body member, a control switch rigidly mounted with respect to said body member, and an operating connection between said flow responsive element and a part of said switch.

2. In an internal combustion engine, means forming a passageway for conducting fuel mixture to said engine, said means including a carburetor and an intake manifold, means in said conduit posterior to the carburetor for restricting the fiow therethrough, said means being displaceable from its flow restricting position in response to flow of fuel mixture, an electrical circuit control device, and means for operating said circuit control dethrough said passage member and being movable to a substantially non-restricting position, a-

starter switch and means for operating said starter switch in response to a movement of said valve.

4. In combination, an intake manifold for an internal combustion engine, a carburetor for supplying fuel mixture to said manifold and an engine starter switch device including an element carried between said carburetor and said manifold and responsive to a difference of pressure on opposite sides of said element to actuate said switch.

5. The combination of elements, specified in claim 4 including means normally urging said swich toward its starter actuating position.

6. In combination with an intake manifold and a carburetor, a body member having a passageway therethrough, said body member beingmounted between said manifold and said carburetor so that the passageway through said body member forms a connection between the outlet of the carburetor and the inlet port of the manifold, a fiow responsive valve in said passageway, and an engine starter switch operatively associated with said valve, said valve being movable in response to flow through said passage, whereby operation of said swi ch is responsive to said flow.

7. The combination of elements specified in claim 6 including spring means resisting the,

movement of said valve in the direction for opening said switch, the strength of said spring means being adjusted to insure closing of said switch when there is no appreciable flow through said passage member but not to close said switch when there is sufiicient flow of fuel to permit the engine to run under its own power.

8. In a device of the class described, an intake conduit for an internal combustion engine, an engine starter switch, a flow operated device associated with a portion of said conduit, a suction operable device associated with a portion of said conduit posterior to said flow operated device, and means operatively connecting both of said devices with said switch.

9. The combination of elements specified in claim 8 including spring means normally urging at least one of said devices toward the switch closing position.

10. The combination of elements specified in claim 8 including spring means urging said first mentioned device toward the switch closing position. said first mentioned device when in said position constituting a substantial restriction in said passage, and functioning to control the pressure in said passage posterior thereto.

11. In combination, an intake passage member for an internal combustion engine, a collar secured thereto, an engine starter switch carried by said collar, a flow operated element carried by said collar, a chamber member carried by said collar and communicating with said intake passage, a piston in said chamber member, operative connections between said switch, said element,

and said piston, and spring means normally urging said switch toward the closed position.

12. Structure as specified in claim 11 including a carburetor, said passage member and said carburetor having opposing bolting flanges, said collar, suction controlled element, chamber member, and piston being formed as a unit and said collar being secured between said flanges.

13. In a device of the class described, an engine intake conduit, an engine starter switch, a flow responsive element in said conduit, an operative connection between said switch and said element, a chamber communicating with said conduit, a piston in said chamber, and an operative connection between said flow responsive element and said piston for rendering said element responsive to suction in said conduit.

14. The combination of elements specified in claim 13 including spring means normally urging said piston and said element toward the switch closing position.

15. In combination, an intake passage member for an internal combustion engine, a carburetor member having a mixture passage, and a body member mounted between said intake passage member and said carburetor member, said body member having an opening registering with the passages in said intake passage member and said carburetor member and an engine starter switch device carried by said body member.

16. The combination of elements specified in claim 15 in which said intake passage and carburetor members include opposing bolting flanges, said body member being secured between said flanges.

17. In combination, a passage member ioran internal combustion engine, a flow controlled element in said member, an element controlled by suction in said member, an engine starter switch device, and mechanical operating connectionsv between said elements and said device.

18. In a device of the class described, an intake passage member for an internal combustion engine, said member including a mixing chamber for fuel and air, a flow controlled valve posterior to said chamber, an engine starter switch device connected to said valve, and yielding means resisting opening of said valve whereby said valve functions as a fuel vaporizer and suction control 1 as well as a starter switch controller.

19. In an internal combustion engine, a fuel mixture passage member, a'variable vaporizing mixing chamber and the engine proper, a. flow" responsive device mounted in said passageway, a starter switch, and an operative connection between said flow responsive device and said switch.

GEORGE R. ERICSON. 

